What To Expect From Virginia Blood Services

Before you come to you Virginia Blood Services should be fully prepared. Read any relevant leaflets and infomercials to become acquainted with the process. How long do Virginia blood donations take? Generally, it should not take more than 40 minutes. The specialists will use a cell separator. If you are having a double red cell donation, this should take up to 20 minutes more than a whole blood donation. This is, however, more effective because you will not be asked to donate more frequently. To make your work easier as a donor, there are automated donations available at different mobile drives and blood centers all over the country.

Are Virginia Blood Services safe?

At this center, state of the art technology is used in the transfusion, putting the organization at the forefront of the industry. Through the technology in use, the risk of contracting diseases is eliminated when you are donating automated red cells. Therefore, this is a very safe procedure.

Is it okay to work after visiting Virginia Blood Services?

It is okay to get back to work. The only precondition is to avoid work that involves strain or heavy lifting. You can proceed with other routine tasks like using a computer or other simpler tasks.

Why is it important to consider automated donation at Virginia Blood Services over the traditionaldonation?

Through automated donation, you get to help two patients at the same time. You will have successfully donated two units of red cells (complete therapeutic doses) for patients who are in critical condition and are in urgent need of red blood cells.

The other benefit of coming to Virginia Blood Services is the use of a smaller needle during automated donation as compared to the normal blood donation. This allows the organization to selectively collect donor components depending on what the patients are in dire need of. Besides, this makes it easier to respond better in the case of a crisis or possible emergencies.

What are the special requirements for automated donation at Virginia Blood Services?

Before you are eligible for red cell donation, you must at least be 16 years old. You should also be a person of generally sound health and have a hematocrit of more than 40%. You may also need a written parental or guardian consent. For male donors, you should weigh no less than 130 pounds, while female donors should weigh at least 150 pounds. The desired donor height should be 5’1” and 5’5” for men and women respectively. In case you have any medical condition or if you are taking any medicine for something, you must disclose this to the support staff in the course of your medical history review.

Men must weigh at least 130 pounds and be at least 5’1″ tall. Women must weigh at least 150 pounds and be at least 5’5″ tall. If you have a specific medical condition or are on medication, please discuss your particular situation with the staff during your medical history interview.

Donors are eligible for automated red cell donation at Virginia Blood Services after every 16 weeks or 112 days. Compared with normal whole blood donation, this is less strenuous because it is half as frequent as you might be used to. The screening and medical review processes are the same for whole blood donors and automated red cell donors.

Is it possible to get someone else’s blood at Virginia Blood Services?

No, that is impossible. Just in the same way as with whole blood donations, each of the donors is offered a disposable kit that is sterile and only meant for individual use. The disposable kit is only fitted once in the cell separator after which it is safely discarded. Your blood will, therefore only get into contact with the sterile disposable kit. You can relax, therefore, because you will not get someone’s blood or a disease when you donate this way.

Can I donate platelets at Virginia Blood Services?

Yes, you can. Platelets can also be donated through an automated system. Through this process, after the platelets have been donated from your blood, the rest of the components are returned to your body. The shelf life of platelets is very short, only five days. They are, therefore, in constant need in certain patients, especially because they help in clotting.

They are necessary during chemotherapy to treat cancer patients. Chemotherapy often reduces the ability of the patient’s blood to clot. Through an automated donation, you are able to donate just enough for one complete dose for a single patient. Some of the patients who benefit from this are those who have had bone marrow transplants, aplastic anemia, those who are getting treated for cancer or a host of other life-threatening diseases.